The cynical founder of a beauty cult clashes with the movement's spiritual leader when he attempts to rescue one of their recruits from perfection.
Neal (MAJED SAYESS), a brilliant inventor, and Linda (MARY KOOMJIAN), a former yoga instructor, run the Beauty Enlightenment Program, a religious movement promising physical perfection through spiritual awareness (and perhaps a little technological help). But when Neal discovers he is no longer attracted to the "enlightened" women he creates, he starts to question his organization and becomes obsessed with Michelle (DANIELLE MUEHLENBEIN), a new recruit who is somehow different from the other followers. When Linda finds out she is furious and vows to usher Michelle into enlightenment at any cost.
BEAUTY MACHINE was produced in an undergraduate film production course taught by award-winning independent filmmaker Lodge Kerrigan. It was filmed on location at Northwest Labs, Harvard University.
- runtime:
- 00:12:32
- medium:
- color 16mm
- genre:
- sci-fi, dark comedy
- type:
- narrative fiction short, student film
- budget:
- $2,300.00
- date of completion:
- May 2009
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2009 Award of Merit Winner, Accolade Competition.
Official Selection, NewFilmmakers Series at Anthology Film Archives.
Official Selection, Cinebarre Short Film PreShow.
Rebecca Relkin Rojer is an award winning student filmmaker. Originally from Maplewood, NJ, she produced her first short films and animations as a student at Columbia High School. In 2004 she was selected to participate in the William H. Cosby Future Filmmakers Workshop at NYU and the Innerspark-CSSA Animation Program at CalArts>. Rebecca currently studies film production in the Visual and Environmental Studies department at Harvard University. She also illustrates for the Harvard Lampoon.
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